Gang hacks 428 bank accounts

KUWAIT: Security sources said that many bank accounts were hacked and money was stolen lately, but authorities following the matter kept it under the lid. They said the latest investigations revealed that the number of stolen accounts is over 428 and the amounts vary from one customer to another.

The sources said the hacking was done by an innovative method and it was discovered a month later, as several customers were complaining that there were withdrawals through their cards and they did not know about them.

Investigation showed that most of the victims used the same ATM in Salmiya. Investigations and review of security cameras tapes showed that there was a small scanning device in the ATM machine which scanned the card information as well as the PIN of every customer who used the machine.

They added that after scanning, the information was sent to a person in the Dominican Republic, who forged the cards and withdrew money through ATMs there.

Investigations revealed that the network has three members, all Bulgarians, who came to Kuwait a few months ago, adding that the number of Kuwaitis victims is low, as most of the affected accounts belong to expatriates - Egyptians, Iranian, Lebanese and Indian - and it is known that salaries of expats are low, and savings are not much, and that is why the gang selected Salmiya for its operations.— Al-Qabas